land based live baiting

[vortfu]

The girly is getting me a cast net for christmas, so I'm keen to hear about everyone's land based live baiting techniques. In the past when I've thrown a little live one on the end of a hook it either doesnt want to swim out or doesnt want to live, both producing similiar (unfavourable) results

vort-fu

[DICER]

Live large hardy heads nicked 1/4 way behind the dorsal are my favorite. Use a No.2 baitholder with 15-20lb leader to swivel 40 cm away. I have had no hassels with them swimming into the current.

Make sure you have a aerator or feshly caught fish with little damage. Don't much about with your rig. Have it set up before (ie. catch hardy head/s -> live bait -> move/walk to deeper water section -> cast gently out -> leave and make sure it's swimming ok)

DICER

[devocean]

Sometimes through the bottom lip with a little float is useful instead of through the shoulder.

[Maria]

If you're going to keep your livies in a bucket at home prior to your trip, keep in mind that the temperature of the water in the bucket in most cases will either rise or fall dramatically depending on your location. This will kill your fish as quick as low oxygen will.

Poddy mullet I've found are by far the best. They're hardy, tough and stay alive well. Can pin them through the nose, through both jaws or above the spine just forward of the dorsal fin.

Hook placement is critical for leaving your fish able to still swim around.

Ben

[Remo]

Fish the seaway at the very end of the wall with a float and a metre + drop.

you only need to be no more than 20 meters of the rocks.
depending on the wind direction fish the current in or out.

Use herring for bait as it is a universal live bait for all.

[Dylan_Rylatt]

i have always found that live bait always produces the best fish with a natural fresh bait always presented. I am like maria in the fact that i always like hooking my baits through the top and bottom jaw. i have alwaays found this the best method as most fish eat the bait head first(Except tailor and the bait stays alive for ever.This method does not work with live herring as they have a really soft jaw structure. So for them i always hook them just above the lateral line pretty close to the top fin.

Cheers

Dylan

[Big_Tuna]

I would prefer live bait, we hook them slight behind the dorsal but dont hit the lateral line, are you have a floater mate.

Try not to rough em up or keep them in water to long with out an oxygen pump or without keeping the water clean.

[CHRIS_aka_GWH]

herring don't cast well - you'll kill em every time.

Live baits to swim away ... tailor & mullet at least 20cm (yes a legal tailor is 30cm remember that ) hook closest to tip pinned at rear of fish - little tension - no lead.

using a bait jig is far better for keeping healthy livies as opposed to quantity a net can get



keep any HARDIHEADS left over lie flat in a chinese takeway container cover with seawater & a bit of sea salt & freeze -

wide gapped hook between the eyes bounced on a 1metre trace behind a drifting boat or along a seawall - FLATHEAD

drifted just a hook in a reasonable current above snags & rocks - BREAM

Keep that girlie she gives good pressies.